NEW YORK — A tourist helicopter carrying six people plunged into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, sparking an extensive emergency response and raising fears of fatalities.
According to sources, the helicopter had five passengers and a pilot onboard when it crashed and submerged near Tribeca. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially couldn’t confirm the exact number of people aboard, law enforcement sources told ABC News that there were casualties. CNN reported that at least three individuals had been rescued.
The Bell 206 aircraft had already flown two trips earlier in the day, and this was its third tour when it went down. Reports indicate the chopper passed near Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty before the crash.
New York Congresswoman Grace Meng expressed her sorrow on social media, calling the incident “devastating.”
Video footage from the scene showed multiple rescue boats converging on a section of the river where the helicopter submerged. The NYPD advised residents to expect emergency activity and traffic disruptions in the area.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now launching a full investigation, with the NTSB taking the lead.